my fave 15 songs of 2011
01/MYCOUNTRY/TUNE-YARDS
2 things about Merrill G that are super inspiring to me: first, what a sumptuous mix of genres!! Second, her voice is incredible. She's not holding back when expressing passion or indignation or the sort of superorganic sensuality that's explicit in her "Powa" song, which is probs the classiest work I've ever heard about sex in the butt. Her stuff is at once way commercially appealing and way out of the pop comfort zone. She is not worried about sounding sexy and this makes her sound ultra ultra sexy.
02/APROBLEMISAPROBLEM/DEATHSET
The irony here is that this is what Black Kids should have sounded like, back when someone at Pitchfork overhyped "Not Gonna Teach Your Boyfriend" way past quality levels, and Michel Poiccard got only like a 6.8 /blehbleh obligatory pf commentary
03/BULGARI/BELL
Perfect for a Balthier and Fran FST, lol. Why ufairly late??? and also why so catchy. I believe Bell is another good example btw of music doing something new. For instance this song is like the synthesis of "Paper Planes" and some kind of spiritual succession to Enya's "Sail Away". BAD ASS
04/LIKEASTRANGER/BODIESOFWATER
I love Bodies of Water so much. Twist Again is about establishing a socialist democracy after the apocalypse. This song is about dying.
05/ON'N'ON/JUSTICE
The mere fact that Spin put this at #17 for 2011 dance albums, accusing it of banking too much on progrock, and then at #1 put SBTRKT's super 90s rehash record which I swear features a song copypastad from Mono or smth, idek man. $$$$
06/RAINBOWINTHEDARK/DASRACIST
If only I could put "Combination Puzza Hut and Taco Bell" on my list every year. Fortunately DR has produced more credible raps since then.
07/IAMTHEBEST/2NE1
Obligatory/self-explanatory
Click to view08/MRSIMPLE/SUPERJUNIOR
Best slomotion intro backwards throwdown jacket edit of year. Song is ok. I do not watch anything but korean things so all these pronouncements are to be interpreted as legitimate.
09/MACCHUPICCHU/STROKES
starter pokemon
10/BEHOLDAMARVELINTHEDARKNESS/DEERHOOF
I was going to pick "Rescue Heads" because it is my fav, but it is kind of half a song and doesn't work very well on a mix unless the person you are sharing the mix with also loves the track and can appreciate its being there. "Marvel In the Darkness" is more self-contained. And arguably most kawaii.
11/ELEVEN/THAO&MIRAH
Bonus for bonus Merrill G.
12/BUYNOTHINGDAY/GO!TEAM
I had Rolling Blackouts in my top songs last year; however I think this song deserves a mention here because it's a great jinglebell holiday piece about never giving up or I guess buying anything.
13/WHOAREYOU/KATHRYNCALDER
Kathryn Calder will always have a New Pornos-shaped place in my ♡. I really, really enjoy playing this song in my car. Maybe just because it starts out on what sounds for a moment like the same melody thing as Somewhere Over the Rainbow.
14/SELFISH/JOSY
Closer to what the Black Stones would really sound like.... .. maybe not tho because of synth ... maybe also who cares in 2012
15/BELONG/THEPAINSOFBEINGPUREATHEART
Actually a little disappoint with Belong, since it went all heavy and my feelings for Pains turned out to be after all contingent on them keeping in keeping with the Smiths. But within 5 sec this song establishes quality. Plus it's got gay overtones according to um like blogs or something
^ @ 8tracks